Lamborghini is putting the hot Huracan Superleggera through its paces in the snow.

Caught on camera by spy photographers multiple times throughout the year, the more aggressive Lamborghini Huracan Superleggera is wearing new wheels for the latest set of spy photos. They appear to be center-locking units, which is quite different than all the previous prototypes that have been spied testing with traditional five-lug wheels.

Still wearing heavy camouflage and a rather large rear spoiler, the Huracan Superleggera will feature plenty of aerodynamic improvements compared to the standard model, making it more track-ready than ever.

Given that Lamborghini hasn’t shed any camouflage off its prototypes, expect to see the hardcore Huracan variant to debut sometime next year, possibly at the Geneva Motor Show.

]]>http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2016/12/next-lamborghini-huracan-variant-spied-testing-in-the-snow.html/feed0more]]>This Really Expensive Lamborghini Speaker is All Kinds of Ridiculoushttp://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2016/12/this-really-expensive-lamborghini-speaker-is-all-kinds-of-ridiculous.html
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2016/12/this-really-expensive-lamborghini-speaker-is-all-kinds-of-ridiculous.html#commentsTue, 06 Dec 2016 14:53:29 +0000http://www.autoguide.com/?p=448195This Really Expensive Lamborghini Speaker is All Kinds of RidiculousThis Lamborghini speaker costs as much as a real car. more]]>Everyone has that one person on their Christmas list who’s impossible to shop for.

Well, fear no more, because Lamborghini’s got you covered with its new Aventador-inspired speaker and docking station.

Hand-built by audio experts, the Esavox comes complete with ceramic speakers, a carbon fiber monocoque, and, best of all, a real exhaust system from a Lamborghini Aventador.

The speakers are built in concert with iXOOST and feature Bluetooth 4.0, an analog input and an ADC/DAC output.

Of course, you’ll have to peek inside their garage to decide if the loved one prefers Porsches or Lambos, but the Volkswagen Group has you covered either way.

Alternatively, and for about the same price ($24,000), you could buy Volkswagen’s speaker system, which comes with a free Passat. Admittedly, that system probably won’t fit under the Christmas tree, though.

]]>http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2016/12/this-really-expensive-lamborghini-speaker-is-all-kinds-of-ridiculous.html/feed1more]]>Here’s How Video Games Revolutionized the Way We Interact with Carshttp://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2016/12/here-s-how-video-games-revolutionized-the-way-we-interact-with-cars.html
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2016/12/here-s-how-video-games-revolutionized-the-way-we-interact-with-cars.html#respondFri, 02 Dec 2016 16:43:04 +0000http://www.autoguide.com/?p=440696Here’s How Video Games Revolutionized the Way We Interact with CarsVideo game developers are working hand in hand with car companies to deliver hyper-realistic driving experiences, while automotive brands are reaching young audiences in new ways. more]]>Video games have revolutionized the way a whole generation interacts with cars.

The Forza racing series of games published by Microsoft, for example, have been particularly successful and are a great example of how automakers are working with video game developers to reach their next generation of consumers — Millennials. The popularity of video games has given automakers a new and exciting way to market and introduce their cars to a range of new audiences in a way they couldn’t previously with traditional advertising formats such as magazine and TV.

It’s easy to see why racing games like Forza are so popular. Prior to video games, the average person was unlikely to see cars like the Lamborghini Centenario, Bugatti Veyron or Ford GT in real life, and getting to drive one was even more impossible. But thanks to the growing relationship between automotive companies and video game developers, now anyone can rip around the Nurburgring, Le Mans, or the Australian Outback in an array of multi-million dollar supercars they once had plastered on their wall as a child. It’s obviously not the same as driving the real thing, but with the advances in video game technology, the experience is getting closer and closer to the real deal.

Making Cars Accessible to Everyone

“The video game is extremely important,” said Henry Ford III, current marketing manager for Ford Performance, and great grandson of the legendary Henry Ford. “We want to make our cars, even our supercars, accessible to everyone, and a great way to do that is through the gaming world. We love the guys at Turn 10 and Microsoft because they create games that really simulate real-world driving experiences.”

Realism is key for racing game developers, which means they have to work very closely with automakers to ensure the cars are as depicted as realistically as possible, said Turn 10 Studios creative director, Dan Greenawalt.

“All of the cars in Forza games are real cars and, as a result, we work with manufacturers from all over the world. That includes the largest automakers in the world like BMW and Audi, to smaller, more specialized manufacturers,” he said. “We are in constant contact with our manufacturing partners to ensure we get the latest and greatest cars first in Forza, and also to help us explore their back catalogs for classic cars that our fans love.”

Ford echoed the same sentiment. “We love the fact that everyone can have these experiences and it’s a really important way for us to reach out to a large group of customers, especially younger customers. It’s a demographic we’re all searching for and we hope to create lifelong Ford enthusiasts through these games.”

Video games are an invaluable asset to other automakers such as BMW, which has been in constant exchange with racing game developers. “BMW has a long tradition of being an integral part in almost all major racing game franchises,” said BMW’s Tobias Weber, head of entertainment marketing and international product placement. He said video games have always been an important part in BMW’s digital marketing approach, and that the field has certainly grown in popularity throughout the years.

“It has always been important for the brand to transport its core values of sheer driving pleasure to a young, digital and car-loving audience. In video games, everyone can drive his or her dream car,” said Weber. “Also [to drive] models which they probably cannot afford to buy yet, but could later in their life. This excitement for BMW carries on into the real world and video gamers then become BMW fans.” Weber said BMW’s latest collaboration was in Forza Horizon 3, where the new BMW M4 GTS was just released in the game.

The great thing about Forza, explained Ford, is that consumers are offered a nice range of simulated driving experiences. There are dozens of Ford vehicles to choose from in the game, including anything from the new GT supercar to some of the historical classics. Instead of having to spend massive amounts of money to drive supercars or rare classics, consumers can spend $60 on a racing video game and get an idea of the look and feel of these cars.

Realism is the Key

Tearing around the Australian Outback at 100 miles per hour in ForzaHorizon 3, the Lamborghini Centenario handles challenging terrain surprisingly well. Its V12 engine screams as it sends mud and sand flying behind it. Its spoiler kicks up when braking to catch extra downforce, narrowly avoiding crashing into a Ford GT and an Audi R8 on a tight corner. Other than the fact the Centenario is hitting 100-foot jumps with ease, the whole experience feels hyper-realistic. One could almost forget they were playing a video game. The multi-million dollar Centenario is one of the most inaccessible cars in the world, which is compounded by the fact the supercar sold out before it even debuted. So the closest most people will get to driving one will be within the Forza universe.

Turn 10 takes realism very seriously in the Forza games, so seriously in fact that the team actually went out to famous racetracks such as Laguna Seca or the Nürburgring and laser scanned the entire surface of the track, including surrounding structures, and took thousands of pictures, resulting in what Greenawalt calls “sub-centimeter accuracy.”

“We featured the Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4 on the cover of Forza Horizon 2 and, for Forza Horizon 3, we were thrilled to be able to feature the Lamborghini Centenario, not just on the cover of the game, but at our booth at E3, where the car made its North American debut,” said Greenawalt.

The Centenario is featured on the game’s box cover, along with the Ford F-150 Raptor off-road truck. Both cars are also featured heavily in many of the television advertisements for the game to help show off the vehicles.

Last year’s Forza Motorsport 6 featured the brand-new Ford GT on the cover. The game’s release coincided with the car’s release. The digital GT looked hyper-realistic because Ford worked hand in hand with Forza from the car’s early concept phase.

There’s a lot of trust between the company and the video game developers, Ford revealed. “I think we brought each other into our circles of trust really early on in the process. We knew Turn 10 had a new title coming out and we had a new car coming out, and it all just worked out really well.”

Turn 10 and the Forza team takes great pride in the close relationships they’ve built with their manufacturing partners, added Greenawalt.

“Forza and Ford is a great example of that kind of relationship. We were briefed on the new Ford GT very early in its conceptual phase, and had the chance to work with the Ford Performance team practically every step of the way, watching the car evolve over time into its current design,” said Greenawalt. “As a result, we had unprecedented access to the new Ford GT, including CAD data, and actual physical access to the car itself. This allowed us to capture the Ford GT with the same level of interior and exterior detail and accuracy that is the Forza standard.”

Interacting With Fans

In 2011, a young man named Jann Mardenborough won the Nissan GT (Gran Turismo) academy, a gaming competition broadcast on television and run by Playstation and Nissan that provided fans an alternative route into mainstream motorsports. Winning this video game competition has allowed the very best Gran Turismo players the chance to drive real race cars and help launch their racing careers with Nissan. Mardenborough won a drive for Nissan at the Dubai 24 Hour race, and is now a professional racing driver competing for the Nissan NISMO team in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Forza also has its own official eSports racing series — eSports is essentially competitive video gaming — in which the champion won a real-life 2017 Ford Focus RS. This is just another example of how car companies are using video games to interact with consumers and get their brand out there.

“Another cool thing we did with Forza this year, along with our partners at Michelin and the Peterson Museum in L.A., is that we did an online eSports Le Mans race while the real-life Le Mans race was happening,” said Ford. He said the company even entered its own team into the event.

“Two of the engineers that worked on the actual GT were also gamers, so they were racing alongside with pro rally driver Andreas Bakkerud. The three of them formed the Ford team, and they raced online against racers from all over the world and they were racing the GT at Le Mans in Forza. It was awesome,” Ford said.

Not Just for Car Enthusiasts

Greenawalt said the games aren’t just for car enthusiasts, either. He said Forza is not just about hopping in a car and turning laps, but that they create games to reflect lots of different aspects of car culture. Craig Daitch, senior manager of social media and brand communications at Chevrolet, also echoed this fact.

“I think in general the average gamer certainly embraces a lot of the qualities and spirit we look to incorporate into our vehicles,” said Daitch. “The beauty of gaming today is that it spreads across multiple demographics. It ranges from casual experiences to experts to people of all types.” Daitch said automakers work very closely with video game developers to make their cars as accurate and realistic as possible so that gamers know what to expect from the real thing. This creates a halo effect with consumers, he explained. If they drive the newest Corvette in a game, they might be more inclined to consider a Chevrolet when they go out to buy their next vehicle.

Bringing Concepts to Life

Daitch also noted the enormous potential video games have to bring prototypes and concept cars to life in a game, giving players an opportunity to experience them virtually first, even if a physical version isn’t drivable. “Look at what we did in Gran Turismo 6, for example, when we brought to life the Chevrolet Chaparral 2x Vision Gran Turismo.”

BMW’s Weber also highlighted the usefulness video games can have in bringing cars to life. “BMW design had designed a special Vision model for Sony’s video game that exists exclusively in the game. We also had the new BMW M2 Coupe in Need For Speed 2015, even before you could actually buy it at your local BMW dealer, which was a huge thing for our fans.”

According to 2013 statistics from Consultancy PriceWaterhouseCoopers, in-game advertising was a $2.8-billion industry worldwide. The relationship between car manufacturers and video game developers is only expected to grow, as video game franchises like Forza, Gran Turismo and Need For Speed continue to sell. It will be interesting to watch how this partnership between automakers and video game companies leads to further innovations, designed to entertain gamers and car fans alike.

]]>http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2016/12/here-s-how-video-games-revolutionized-the-way-we-interact-with-cars.html/feed0more]]>This Lamborghini Commercial is Pretty Dumb, but We Watched it 3 Times Anywayhttp://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2016/11/this-lamborghini-commercial-is-pretty-dumb-but-we-watched-it-3-times-anyway.html
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2016/11/this-lamborghini-commercial-is-pretty-dumb-but-we-watched-it-3-times-anyway.html#commentsWed, 30 Nov 2016 16:30:52 +0000http://www.autoguide.com/?p=446982This Lamborghini Commercial is Pretty Dumb, but We Watched it 3 Times AnywayLamborghini has released a new commercial for its Huracan lineup. more]]>

Lamborghini has released a new commercial for its Huracan lineup, and it basically serves no purpose but to give you your car porn fix for the day.

Like most other Lamborghini commercials, this one is overwrought, unnecessarily dramatic, and takes itself too seriously. But that didn’t stop us from watching it three times anyway, if just to delight our ears with a few minutes of glorious V10s wailing about.

]]>http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2016/11/this-lamborghini-commercial-is-pretty-dumb-but-we-watched-it-3-times-anyway.html/feed2more]]>Giving Thanks to the Automakershttp://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2015/11/giving-thanks-to-the-automakers-in-2015.html
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2015/11/giving-thanks-to-the-automakers-in-2015.html#commentsThu, 24 Nov 2016 13:01:06 +0000http://www.autoguide.com/?p=357868Giving Thanks to the AutomakersIt’s that time again. Time to give our thanks to all the automotive manufacturers for yet another wild and crazy year. Convertible Range Rovers, 8,200 rpm muscle cars and a further infestation of SUV coupes. Yup, this year has seen it all. We laughed, we cried, we sucked up all the dynamism, functiontainment and powerfficiency... more]]>

It’s that time again. Time to give our thanks to all the automotive manufacturers for yet another wild and crazy year.

Convertible Range Rovers, 8,200 rpm muscle cars and a further infestation of SUV coupes. Yup, this year has seen it all. We laughed, we cried, we sucked up all the dynamism, functiontainment and powerfficiency we can take.

But what really stood out? What grabbed our attention quicker than half price diecast models at a flea market? Let’s break down what each manufacturer brought to the table this year, making us more grateful than retirees eating a 4 pm turkey dinner.

A hearty thank you for proving what the world really needs – a quarter-million dollar SUV that can run upwards of 187 mph. Next up should be the half-million dollar pickup truck that runs 10s in the quarter mile.

Buick’s cars are *insert over used old person joke.* You know who likes to drive Buicks? *insert slight revision on above joke, ensuring punch line is still about old people* But seriously, the new Lacrosse looks great.

A big thanks for answering enthusiasts’ prayers the world over and putting a turbocharged engine into a Miata. Also, thanks for using a vehicle name that isn’t “500-something-or-other” in North America.

Thanks for separating the Genesis into a new luxury brand. If Notorious B.I.G. was still alive today we’re certain he’d change the line to “Super Nintendo, Hyundai Genesis, When I was dead broke, man I couldn’t picture this.”

Thank you for running with the marketing gold of using a hit song that happens to share its name with your latest vehicle model in all its ads. Now, could you talk to your Dodge cohorts across the hallway about Scatman John’s 1994 hit?

Thank you for introducing a new four-door MINI that isn’t called the four-door MINI because the four-door MINI name was already taken by the four-door MINI which isn’t the same as the new four-door MINI.

]]>http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2015/11/giving-thanks-to-the-automakers-in-2015.html/feed4more]]>Lamborghini Trademarks a Name for Its Next Supercarhttp://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2016/11/lamborghini-trademarks-a-new-badge-for-the-aventador.html
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2016/11/lamborghini-trademarks-a-new-badge-for-the-aventador.html#respondMon, 21 Nov 2016 18:15:10 +0000http://www.autoguide.com/?p=445503Lamborghini Trademarks a Name for Its Next SupercarLamborghini has trademarked a new name for a future supercar. more]]>Lamborghini has filed a trademark to protect “Aventador S,” the name that will likely be used on the car when it is refreshed.

The Italian brand filed the trademark with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to protect the name on November 18, 2016. Recent spy photos show that Lamborghini is testing a face lifted Aventador that is likely to be revealed at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, a model that will likely wear this new ‘S’ badge.

It appears as though the facelift has borrowed some of its looks from the more aggressive Aventador SV, including new air intakes on top of the rear fenders and a slightly revised from end. A new wing in the rear and the new front spoiler should help the car produce more downforce than before as well.

Lamborghini is expected to give the revamped Aventador a slight power bump of somewhere between 20 and 40 horsepower. There is also a chance that this will be the last naturally aspirated V12 that doesn’t have any electrification, as the brand moves towards hybrid powertrains.

Although the Italian automaker isn’t present at the 2016 L.A. Auto Show, it debuted the Lamborghini Huracan Rear-Wheel Drive Spyder variant at a private event the night before the show opened to the media. The new rear-wheel-drive convertible joins the currently available all-wheel-drive coupe, AWD Spyder and the RWD coupe, bringing the total number of Huracan variants to four, not including the special edition models available.

At the very least, Lamborghini did tweak the styling a bit on the model, giving it a unique front and rear design that looks more aggressive than the AWD models. It is still powered by a familiar 5.2-liter V10 engine with 580 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque, which is slightly less than the AWD Spyder’s 602-hp figure.

The Lamborghini Huracan has so many different variations that rich people everywhere are starting to lose track, but the Italian automaker has added yet another model to the Huracan lineup.

The Lamborghini Huracán Rear-Wheel Drive Spyder debuted at a private event the night before the 2016 L.A. Auto Show. The RWD Spyder joins the all-wheel-drive coupe, AWD Spyder and the rear-drive coupe, which brings the number of variants to a total of four, without including all the special edition models also available.

The RWD Spyder stands out from the rest of the Huracán family visually with a unique front and rear design that looks more aggressive than its all-wheel-drive siblings. Larger front air intakes help increase down pressure on the front axle, and the mid-mounted engine gets a new slatted cover unique to the Spyder. The soft-top can be opened at speeds of up to 31 mph and takes just 17 seconds to open and close.

The new model is still powered by a naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 that sends 580 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque exclusively to the rear wheels (slightly less than the AWD Spyder’s 602 hp). The roadster can accelerate from zero to 62 mph in 3.6 seconds (0.2 seconds slower than the AWD model) and top speed is rated at 198 mph (top speed for the AWD model is 201 mph). A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is the only one available, and the Spyder also includes a launch control function.

Dry weight of the convertible is 3,327 pounds, meaning it’s 192 pounds heavier than the AWD model. The Huracan gets tweaks to support the new RWD layout including recalibrated stability and traction controls and a new steering setup, among others. Driving modes have also been optimized to suit the new RWD model.

The Lamborghini Huracán Rear-Wheel Drive Spyder will be available starting in January 2017 and will be priced between the RWD coupe and AWD coupe.

One thing we know for sure is that there are probably even more Huracán variants and special edition models on the way.

]]>http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2016/11/lamborghini-expands-huracan-family-with-new-rear-drive-convertible.html/feed0more]]>What to Expect at the 2016 LA Auto Showhttp://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2016/11/what-to-expect-at-the-2016-la-auto-show.html
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2016/11/what-to-expect-at-the-2016-la-auto-show.html#respondMon, 14 Nov 2016 12:00:41 +0000http://www.autoguide.com/?p=440345What to Expect at the 2016 LA Auto ShowMore than 50 debuts have been confirmed for this year's show in Los Angeles. more]]>

The 2016 L.A. Auto Show kicks off November 15 and there are plenty of debuts heading to California.

More than 50 debuts have been confirmed for this year’s show in Los Angeles, with confirmed world debuts coming from Alfa Romeo, Mazda, MINI, Subaru and more. General Motors has promised to bring multiple global and North American debuts, including two reveals from Chevrolet, although it’s currently unclear what those may be.

Check out 10 things you can expect from the 2016 L.A. Auto Show below.

Acura Concept

Acura has promised to unveil a new concept car under the bright Hollywood lights this year, possibly serving as a follow-up to the smash hit Precision Concept that debuted earlier this year.

Alfa Romeo Stelvio

Last year, Alfa Romeo used the L.A. Auto Show to debut the Giulia sedan and this year, the Italian automaker will unveil its first SUV, which is called the Stelvio. Spy photographers have caught the Stelvio testing numerous times over the past few months wearing the signature Alfa grille. L.A. will be the first time we will get to see it in its entirety without camouflage.

Honda Civic Si

Honda already got enthusiasts excited earlier this month at the 2016 SEMA Show by bringing the Type R Prototype to North America for the first time. But before the production Civic Type R arrives, North America will get to enjoy the Civic Si that will likely debut as a coupe.

Lamborghini Huracan Superleggera

As is typical with Lamborghini, the Italian automaker won’t actually have a display at the Los Angeles Convention Center, but it will be hosting a debut for media and special guests at a private event before the show kicks off. Expect the company to show off the Huracan Superleggera.

Mazda CX-5

Mazda has already confirmed that the all-new CX-5 will make its debut in Los Angeles, promising that the crossover “has further refined every element of its design and technology to offer new dimensions of driving pleasure.” Joining the all-new CX-5 on Mazda’s stage will be the Mazda3, Mazda6, CX-3, CX-9 and MX-5 RF as well as the current CX-5. The Japanese automaker will also host the world premiere of a new Mazda Prototype race car. The Millionth Miata is also making its final American stop at the show.

Mercedes-AMG E63

Although they have already been introduced, Mercedes-AMG will display the new E63 and E63 S models in L.A. It will be the first time the new high-performance sedans will be shown in public and they will likely be joined by a large collection of new models including the new GLE43.

MINI Countryman

MINI’s largest model ever will also make its first public appearance at the 2016 L.A. Auto Show. The new Countryman also offers the British automaker’s first plug-in hybrid ever, sporting a three-cylinder gasoline engine and an electric hybrid synchronous motor to provide 221 horsepower and a 24-mile all-electric range.

Nissan Sentra NISMO

First shown as a concept at the 2013 L.A. Auto Show, the production Nissan Sentra NISMO will debut this year. Spy photographers caught a prototype of it testing earlier this year and it appears that the sedan’s styling will be toned down a bit compared to the concept. Look for the Sentra to join NISMO’s other offerings that currently includes the Juke NISMO RS, Juke NISMO, 370Z NISMO and GT-R NISMO.

Subaru Concept

Subaru has a surprise in store at the 2016 L.A. Auto Show, confirming that a concept will make its debut. It’s unclear what the Japanese automaker will bring, but a possibility is a concept that previews the next-generation Subaru Tribeca, which has been spied testing in prototype form.

Toyota C-HR

Last year, the C-HR Concept made its North American debut at the L.A. Auto Show under the Scion brand. But since then, Toyota has axed the youth-oriented nameplate and the new crossover will be sold as a Toyota model in the U.S. There might not be any major surprises, however, considering the C-HR is already marketed in Europe. Styling is unlikely to change, although powertrain offerings may be different for the North American market.

Rappers love throwing down lyrics about cars, but which automakers are their favorites?

GoCompare.com did an analysis of more than 62,000 songs on Rap Genius from artists featured in the Top 40 Rap US Billboard Charts across the past decade and a list of the 100 greatest rappers of all time to determine which automakers are most rapped about in hip hop.

Some of the automakers that make the top 10 list might not surprise you, but others may have you digging through Spotify to see how true it is.

10. Rolls-Royce

With 648 mentions, British luxury automaker Rolls-Royce lands in 10th place on the list. The company’s cars are obviously popular among the hyper-wealthy and some rappers have embraced everything Rolls-Royce has to offer. Puff Daddy, for example, has a solid gold Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament on his white Phantom, while other rappers such as Warren G, The Roots and Wale have mentioned Rolls-Royce in their songs.

9. Maybach

Maybach might best be known in hip hop for when Jay Z and Kanye West modified one for the “Otis” video, but the brand has been mentioned 694 times, according to GoCompare.com’s data. The Landaulet is one of the most exclusive Maybach models with only eight units around, with one owned by rapper Birdman. Jay Z loves the brand so much that he is one of the few people in the world with the Exelero, one of the most expensive cars of all time with a price tag of $8-million. Joey Bada$$, Ghostface Killah and Snoop Dogg are among the rappers that have name-dropped Maybach in their tracks.

8. Lexus

Mentioned 854 times, Lexus might be the most surprising automaker on the list. It is also the only Japanese brand to make an appearance, with rappers like Ice Cube, Kanye West and Stormzy making mentions. When the automaker first launched in the 1990s, it grew in popularity with rappers, becoming synonymous with new wealth that came with rap and hip hop fame. Notorious B.I.G. was a fan, owning a unique gold Lexus SUV.

7. Cadillac

Some would say that rappers and hip hop artists helped make the Cadillac Escalade famous. There’s also a strong love of classic Cadillac models by hip hop artists, including 50 Cent, Drake, Macklemore and Kurtis Blow. The American luxury automaker has 893 car mentions.

6. Lamborghini

Not surprisingly, Lamborghini finds its way on the list with 964 mentions, including in songs by artists Akon, Omarion and Missy Elliott. Not only are Lambos often mentioned in rap songs, but they’re owned by numerous hip hop artists as well. In 2012, Kim Kardashian famously bought Kanye West a matte black Lamborghini Aventador for his birthday, but unfortunately, the car was crushed by Kardashian’s front gate when an assistant attempted to park the exotic.

5. Chevrolet

Rappers love Chevrolet models but seem to prefer classic models like the Impala over their more modern counterparts. In the 1990s, Chevy was known as the car of West Coast hip hop, made famous by Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and more. In today’s world, artists like A$AP Rocky, Killer Mike, Juicy J, T.I., Gucci Mane and Rick Ross all rap about the new generation of Chevys. Chevrolet has been mentioned 999 times.

4. Porsche

There are numerous Porsche models that are popular with rappers and hip hop artists. For example, The Game regularly repaints and outfits his Panamera with new wheels every two months. With 1,014 mentions, Porsche can be heard in songs by Talib Kweli, Big Punisher and Cypress Hill, and one of its more famous appearances is when Nelly drove a vintage 356 model in the song and video to “Hey Porsche” in 2013.

3. Ferrari

According to GoCompare, Ferrari is more popular than Lamborghini among rappers and hip hop artists with 1,250 mentions. Often shortened to “Rari” in songs, the Italian automaker has become the go-to brand for stylish transportation and lyrical inspiration. Atlanta rapper T.I. famously owns one, while other artists like Drake, T-Pain and Tyga have recently made mention of Ferrari in their songs.

2. Bentley

At 1,498 mentions, British automaker Bentley finishes second place in the list. A favorite among rappers for offering the ideal blend of luxury and performance, Bentley has been mentioned in songs by Wyclef Jean, Common and Drake. And then there’s the famous bright pink Bentley Continental owned by Nicki Minaj. The likes of Soulja Boy, Rick Ross, Fabolous and T.I. are also known to have a Bentley tucked away in their garages.

1. Mercedes-Benz

But pulling away by a large majority is Mercedes-Benz, with 3,238 car mentions. Often referred to as “Benz” or “Merc” in rap lyrics, the German automaker can be heard in songs by Mase, Dr. Dre and A Tribe Called Quest. A Mercedes 300SL was used in Kanye West’s video “Diamonds From Sierra Leone” to smash through a shop window.

]]>http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2016/10/top-10-car-brands-rappers-love.html/feed0more]]>Mystery Lamborghini to Debut in LA this Monthhttp://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2016/11/a-new-lamborghini-model-is-debuting-this-month.html
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2016/11/a-new-lamborghini-model-is-debuting-this-month.html#respondFri, 04 Nov 2016 11:33:03 +0000http://www.autoguide.com/?p=439587Mystery Lamborghini to Debut in LA this MonthA new Lamborghini model will debut in LA, but not at the LA Auto Show itself. Our money is on the Superleggera. more]]> [See image gallery at www.autoguide.com]

The Italian automaker will take advantage of the L.A. Auto Show, but the debut won’t take place inside the convention center.

According to CarBuzz, Lamborghini has confirmed it will debut a new car in Los Angeles this month, but it won’t be attending the annual auto show. The move is similar to what the company did last year, when it debuted the Huracan LP 580-2 at a special, private event before the L.A. Auto Show opened its doors to the media. The only details Lamborghini has shared is that it will be a “World premiere of the newest expression to emerge from Sant’Agata Bolognese.”

Based on recent spy photos, it is likely that the debut is the Huracan Superleggera, which spy photographers have seen testing numerous times over recent months. The company also trademarked Huracan Performante, which suggests a convertible variant of the Superleggera is also in the works. If the Huracan Superleggera coupe does bow in L.A. later this month, expect the Performante convertible version to be unveiled at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show next March.

Our team of editors took home both the runner-up and first-place prize in the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada’s (AJAC) online video awards.

Features Editor Sami Haj-Assaad took home the runner-up prize for his review of the 2016 Lamborghini Huracán LP610-4 Spyder, while News Editor and resident truck expert Stephen Elmer captured the win for his look at the INKAS Huron.

Elmer also managed to bring home a second runner-up in the published photography category for his image of the 2017 Ford Super Duty.

Credit also must go to our video producer, Chris Blanchette, who shot and edited both of the winning videos this year.